DeLand column: Fasching clears Johnnies for liftoff

Quarterback Jackson Erdmann throws a pass near the end zone during the Saturday, Sept. 17, game against St. Olaf at Clemens Stadium in Collegeville.(Photo: Dave Schwarz, dschwarz@stcloudtimes.com)Buy Photo

COLLEGEVILLE — Six yards and a cloud of Sam Sura was the basic offensive philosophy during Gary Fasching’s first three seasons as head coach of the St. John’s University football team, for a variety of valid reasons.

Fasching’s first offensive inclination is to run the ball. So is his second. You can’t argue with handing it to a two-time All-American and the school’s all-time leading rusher, nor can you argue with the results (a 27-7 record and two NCAA playoff appearances).

“He had Sura, and he didn’t really have to worry about it,” senior wide receiver Evan Clark said. “He went out on a limb (this season), and now he’s really trusting it.”

Also for good reason.

The transition to “Fasching’s Flying Circus” continued in earnest Saturday during a 44-0 rout of St. Olaf at Clemens Stadium, courtesy of freshman quarterback Jackson Erdmann and has cadre of suddenly unleashed receivers.

“We’re having a blast,” said Clark, whose 28-yard TD catch on the game’s second play was his sixth touchdown reception in the Johnnies’ first three games. “I knew if he gave us a chance, we’d be able to do it.”

“I have some really nice athletes to throw to,” said Erdmann, who completed 9 of 14 passes for 158 yards and touchdowns to four different receivers before taking a seat midway through the second quarter. “They usually burn the (defensive) guy, so it’s pretty easy.

“Chemistry-wise, we’re doing pretty well.”

That’s a bit of an understatement. St. John’s first-team offense has played a total of seven quarters in three blowout wins, and during that time the Johnnies have scored 116 points.

Erdmann has been a revelation, completing 40 of 56 passes (71.4 percent) for 627 yards and 12 touchdowns with no interceptions.

“We just all know, like ‘click,’ where the ball should be,” said Erdmann, whose perfectly thrown 78-yard TD bomb to Matt Miller capped a three-touchdown first quarter.

“Each week he’s gotten better and better,” Fasching said. “He’s got a great grasp of the offense. He’s not afraid to take a chance sometimes. He’s really played well.”

Well enough that even run-centric Fasching has been willing to throw caution to the wind — some of it, anyway.

“I think he still is that kind of (run-first) coach,” said senior fullback Zack Sundly, who caught Erdmann’s fourth touchdown pass. “But to be a good coach, you have to use the personnel you have.

“He obviously sees that Jackson’s a very good thrower and we have a lot of good receivers. It’d be dumb to not utilize all of them.”

“I wasn’t too worried about always handing the ball off, because I knew there were good athletes here,” Erdmann said. “Obviously, I know they were run-oriented. I was pretty confident that we’d throw.”

But none of this would have happened without clearance for takeoff from the head coach.

The best coaches adjust their strategy to their personnel, not the other way around. After three run-first seasons, Fasching has clearly shown the ability to do exactly that.